UNIT 84. There … and it … ENGLISH GRAMMAR IN USE FOR INTERMEDIATE

ENGLISH GRAMMAR IN USE FOR INTERMEDIATE

UNIT 84. There … and it …

A	Study this example: We use there ... when we talk about something for the first time, to say that it exists: √ There's a new restaurant in Hill Street. (not A new restaurant is in Hill Street) I'm sorry I'm late. There was a lot of traffic. (not It was a lot of traffic) Things are more expensive now. There has been a big rise in the cost of living. √ √ It =a specific thing, place, fact, situation etc. (but see also section C): √ We went to the new restaurant. It's very good. (It =the restaurant) I wasn't expecting them to come. It was a complete surprise. (It =that they came) √ Compare there and it: √ I don't like this town. There's nothing to do here. It's a boring place. There also means (to/at/in that place': √ When we got to the party, there were already a lot of people there(= at the party).
B	You can say there will be /there must be /there might be /there used to be etc. : √ Will you be busy tomorrow? Will there be much to do? 'Is there a flight to Rome tonight?' 'There might be. I'll check the website.' If people drove more carefully, there wouldn't be so many accidents. √ √ Also there must have been, there should have been etc.: √ I could hear music coming from the house. There must have been somebody at home. Compare there and it: √ They live on a busy road. There must be a lot of noise from the traffic. They live on a busy road. It must be very noisy. There used to be a cinema here, but it closed a few years ago. That building is now a supermarket. It used to be a cinema. √ √ √ You can also say there is sure /bound (=sure) /likely to be .... Compare there and it: √ There's sure to be a flight to Rome tonight. (or There's bound to be ...) There's a flight to Rome tonight, but it's sure to be full. (it= the flight) √
C	We also use it in sentences like this: √ It’s dangerous to walk in the road. We do not usually say 'To walk in the road is dangerous,. Normally we begin with It .... Some more examples: √ It didn't take us long to get here. It's a shame (that) you can't come to the party. Let's go. It’s not worth waiting any longer. √ √ We also use it to talk about distance, time and weather: √ How far is it from here to the airport? What day is it today? It’s a long time since we saw you last. It was windy yesterday. (but There was a cold wind.) √ √ √

EXERCISES

84.1	Put in there is/was or it is/was. Some sentences are questions (is there ... ? /is it ... ? etc.) and some are negative (isn't/wasn't). 1 The journey took a long time. ____There was______ a lot of traffic. What’s this restaurant like? _____is it_____ good?. _________________ something wrong with the computer. Can you check it for me? I wanted to visit the museum, but _________________ enough time. 'What's that building? _________________ a hotel?' 'No, _________________ a theatre.' 2 3 4 5 6 How do we get across the river? _________________ a bridge? A few days ago _________________  a big storm, which caused a lot of damage. I can't find my phone. _________________ in my bag- I just looked. It's often cold here, but _________________ much snow. 'How was your trip?' _________________ a disaster. Everything went wrong.' 7 8 9 10 11 _________________ anything on television, so I turned it off. _________________ a bookshop near here?' 'Yes, _________________ one in Hudson Street.' When we got to the cinema, _________________ a queue outside. _________________ a very long queue, so we decided not to wait. I couldn't see anything. _________________ completely dark. _________________ difficult to get a job right now. _________________ a lot of unemployment. 12 13 14 15
84.2	Read the first sentence and then write a sentence beginning There .... 1 The roads were busy yesterday. ___ There was a lot of traffic ________. 2 This soup is very salty. There ___________________in the soup 3 The box was empty. ___________________in the box 4 The film is very violent. ___________________________________ 5 The shopping mall was crowded. ___________________________________ 6 I like this town- it's lively. ___________________________________
84.3	Complete the sentences. Use there will be, there would be etc. Choose from: will may would wouldn’t should used to (be) going to 1 If people drove more carefully, _____there would be _____fewer accidents. 'Do we have any eggs?' 'I'm not sure. ____________ some in the fridge.' I think everything will be OK. I don't think ____________ any problems. Look at the sky. ____________ a storm. 'Is there a school in the village?' 'Not now. ____________ one, but it closed.' 2 3 4 5 6 People drive too fast on this road. I think ____________ a speed limit. If people weren't aggressive, ____________ any wars. 7
84.4	Are these sentences right or wrong? Change it to there where necessary. 1 They live on a busy road. It must be a lot of noise. ___There must be a lot of noise _____ 2 It's a long way from my house to the nearest shop. After the lecture it will be an opportunity to ask questions. I like where I live, but it would be nicer to live by the sea. Why was she so unfriendly? It must have been a reason. ______________________________ 3 ______________________________ 4 ______________________________ 5 ______________________________ 6 It's three years since I last went to the theatre. ______________________________ 7 A: Where can we park the car? B: Don't worry. It's sure to be a car park somewhere. ______________________________ 8 It was Ken's birthday yesterday. We had a party. The situation is still the same. It has been no change. It used to be a church here, but it was knocked down. I was told that it would be somebody to meet me at the station, but it wasn't anybody. I don't know who'll win, but it's sure to be a good game. ______________________________ 9 ______________________________ 10 ______________________________ 11 ______________________________ 12 ______________________________

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